in possession of Salerno, and opened his communication with the British fleet.

The Cardinal solicited of Nelson permission for Darley to remain. with him, which was granted. The rank of Colonel was given to him; and during a series of sanguinary battles, he contributed by his skill and valour to victory in them all.

At Naples Darley stormed the castle of Cameno, and raised three regiments, which he disciplined after the British fashion, and at the head of them was the terror of the enemy. He practised a ruse de

guerre upon the Neapolitan ministers, and asserted that he was a descendant of the great Darley, the hero of Naples some centuries past. His majesty conferred on him the honour of knighthood, and made him a chamberlain of the empire, and a general.

Darley

Darley returned to England for a short time, and not being able to obtain leave of absence from his corps, he resigned his commission in the marines, and returned to the Sicilian service, where, after many hair-breadth escapes, he saw Ferdinand reseated on the throne of his birth

right.

Wearied with the intrigues of a court, he obtained the government of Trapani, the most honourable military command (save two) in the King's disposal. He had been there several years, highly beloved by all ranks of people; and the Irish cook, who had tickled Freeman's palate so delectably, was the marine who recognised his Captain under the disguise of a mountaineer.

Darley, who amused Harolde with this narrative,

narrative, now proposed a walk to where he would introduce them to some ladies.

Freeman was glad to hear that the Lady Abbess would be one of the num ber; and for once he saw nothing to blame in Harolde's anxiety to form new female acquaintances.

After many circuitous windings through groves of myrtle, they reached a small pavilion, which overlooked the convent and all its grounds: the interior was elegantly furnished; and a middle-aged woman, who appeared to be the housekeeper, shewed them into a marble-paved hall, where wine and all sorts of refreshment were prepared for a numerous party. No person could have access to this abode, for the Governor locked several gates as they ascended, putting the key in his pocket.

In

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In a few minutes after they were seated, the Lady Abbess and several nuns t arrived, who unveiled without ceremony. None of them were young, nor of superior beauty, bearing more the appearance of loose Cyprians than holy devotees. They were not averse to a glass of wine; and danced, sung, and played on several instruments scientifically. Their accomplishments equalled their profligacy; and Harolde, though he joined in the festive mirth with good humour, could not esteem his depraved companions.-" No man is a hero before his valet de chambre," nor in the company of dissolute females, after the rosy god has mounted in fumes to the secret recesses of the brain, and by the assistance of passion, turned reason topsyturvy in his throne.

Harolde forgot for a few hours his own character,

character, and the recollection of forme loves, whose most wanton excesses were purity, compared to this scene of Bacchus and Venus inspiring their votaries in the enchanted heights of Trapani.

As for Darley, his military habits made him think lightly of such transactions; he thought all women were fair game, and those which took the least trouble to bring down, he conceived afforded the most delicious sport, and were most desirable.

Freeman listened to the Princess, with that devout attention an ancient pilgrim would to a Pythoness at the oracle of Apollo; and casting aside his philosophic mantle, he became boisterously amusing, jesting on the different ages of the Princess and his young dulcinea at Pantalaria, in allusion to which he sung

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